Using Fonts in Webpage Design

Many of my visitors are curious as to what fonts are available for internet viewing, how they use them, and where they get them. The font you are reading now (but only if you have this font resident on your computer) is "Arial", size=-1. The following are examples of other fonts that may be viewed. An important consideration: you can only view a font on your monitor that is resident on your computer. In other words, I have specified the font "Algerian" in the first example below. Algerian is a standard TrueType font. If the fonts library on your computer has this font, you will see the font as Algerian; otherwise, you will see only your default font.

Additionally, the feature of viewing multiple fonts appears only to be available with versions 3.0 and above of Netscape or Microsoft's Internet Explorer. If you do not have a current version of one of these browsers, visit their sites and obtain one! The newer features are wonderful!

A Sprinkling of Fonts:

This font is called Algerian, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called American Uncial, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Augsburger Initials, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Blew, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Book Antiqua, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Braggadocio, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Broadway, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Brush Script, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Carla, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Century Gothic, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Chaucer, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Cooper Black, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Copperplate, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Desdemona, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called DomCasual, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Forte, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Gill Sans, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Harlow Solid Italic, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Hobo, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Leo, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Lucida Calligraphy, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Lucida Handwriting, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Mariage, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Matura MT Script Capitals, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Monotype Corsiva, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Mural Script, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Optimum, and it looks like this in italics.p> This font is called Photina Casual Black, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called SerpentineBold, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Times New Roman, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called University Roman, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Vivaldi, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Wide Latin, and it looks like this in italics.

This font is called Windsor, and it looks like this in italics.

Now What?

So, now that you've seen some of the fonts you do have resident on your computer and some of the fonts you don't have, how do you decide what font face to specify in your html source so your viewers can see what you see? There are, basically, three choices here:

1) You just take your chances, and know everyone doesn't really care what font you are using. Assume the ones that do care actually have already gone to the trouble to download a current browser as well as a reasonable selection of fonts, and specify the font of your choice:

<FONT FACE="Algerian">, followed by your text, will display the Algerian text to all viewers that have it resident on their computers. Always remember to close your font command, when you are through with a particular font face, color, or size, with </font>.

2) You specify the font of your choice, and put a notation on your page that you are using font face "whatever," and offer a link to a site that offers that font as freeware for the "ultimate in viewing pleasure," or

3) You specify a string of fonts that will be used by the viewer, according to what is available to them, offering you a descending order "choice" of what the viewers will see. This is achieved by listing, in choice of descending preference, a variety of font faces, separated by commas. For example,

<FONT FACE="Algerian, Matura MT Script, Comic Sans MS"> will yield a font face of Algerian if the user has it installed. If the viewer does not not have Algerian, Matura MT Script will be displayed. If the viewer does not have Matura MT Script, Comic Sans MS will be displayed. Finally, if the viewer has none of the fonts listed, the viewers default font will be displayed.

Font Download Sites:

Well, there are actually so many sites to download fonts that one could not possibly maintain a complete listing - so, I've listed here just a few that offer downloadable fonts (primarily freeware, some shareware) for you to increase your own font library!

Spoogy's Eternal Nirvana of Fonts - This one will keep you busy for hours!

Kemosabe's Freeware and Shareware - another one for hours of pleasure!

Free TrueType Fonts for the Web from Microsoft

Freeware Fonts from Astigmatic One Eye

Emerald City Fontwerks - Freeware and Cheapware fonts!

Fontage True Type Fonts - An Exhaustive Site with over 1,350 Freeware and Shareware fonts

I hope this brief explanation is sufficient to get you rolling in the right direction of enhancing your webpage design with attractive fonts! If there is anything I have omitted here that will improve or add clarity to the message, please let me know. Also, if you have any questions, I will be more than happy to (at least try to) answer them. The logo below will link you to my e-mail - drop me a line!